If you’re not able to keep up with each Porsche Motorsport post here on FlatSixes.com and would prefer a brief synopsis of what’s happening in the world of Porsche Motorsport, there is no better way to stay in touch than by reviewing the monthly Porsche Motorsport Newsletter. Filled with interesting facts and figures about past and upcoming races, along with changes to team and crew, the Porsche Motorsport Newsletter is an easy way to keep up-to-date on this year’s racing activities.
FIA GT Championship: Richard Westbrook clinches title with 911 GT3 RSR
With victory at the eighth and final round in Zolder (25 Oct.), Richard Westbrook from Great Britain secured the GT2 drivers’ title of the FIA GT Championship. Westbrook and Porsche works driver Emmanuel Collard had won the first two races in their 911 GT3 RSR fielded by the Belgian Prospeed team and held the lead until the seventh round. At the final, the Briton shared the cockpit with Porsche-Junior Marco Holzer, who impressed with his faultless drive. Collard shared the 911 with Porsche-Junior Martin Ragginger, saw the chequered flag in sixth, and concluded his season in third.
Italian GT Championship: Francisco Cruz-Martins is the new champion
The fight for the title of the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo went on until the final race weekend. Fifth position at race one of two in Monza (17/18 Oct.) was enough for Portugal’s Francisco Cruz-Martins to win the championship’s top class with Autorlando Sport’s 911 GT3 RSR. Team honours went to Autorlando Sport. Cruz-Martins shared the cockpit with Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen at all rounds with the exception of one race at Mugello.
International GT Open: Autorlando Sport team champion with Lietz and Roda
Triumph for Porsche teams at the finale of the International GT Open on the Circuito do Algarve (8 Nov.) in Portugal. IMSA Performance Matmut pilots Patrick Pilet and Raymond Narac won ahead of their teammates Richard Balandras and Jean-Philippe Beloc, with Richard Lietz and Gianluca Roda finishing third in an Autorlando Sport 911 GT3 RSR. The Italian squad wrapped up the Super GT title. Lietz and Roda took the drivers’ vice-championship ahead of Pilet/Narac.
Spanish GT Championship: Jesús Diez and Antonio Castro GTS champions
Four wins and five further podium results from twelve races: Jesús Diez and Antonio Castro (911 GT3 Cup S) topped off this performance in the Campeonato de Espana GT on the Circuito do Algarve (7/8 Nov.) with the GTS championship. In the Super GT category, the highest class, Miguel Angel de Castro narrowly missed out on the title to conclude the season as runner-up with Drivex’s 911 GT3 RSR.
Belgian GT Championship: First Motorsport wins team classification
Final spurt yields title: Francois Verbist and Bert Longin secured their second win of the season at the penultimate race (24 Oct.) and claimed the final podium spot the following day at the eleventh and last race of the Belgian GT Championship in Zolder with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S run by First Motorsport. With this, First Motorsport claimed the team title. Longin and Verbist concluded their successful season ranking third in the drivers’ classification.
Long Distance Championship Nürburgring: Ten races, nine Porsche wins
Top results for Porsche on the world’s toughest race track: Christian Mamerow and Dirk Werner won the ninth as well as the tenth and final race of the BF Goodrich Long Distance Championship Nürburgring (17 Oct., 31 Oct.) with Mamerow Racing’s 911 GT3 Cup S. Mamerow Racing clinched four overall wins in 2009. However, the team to take the most overall victories at the long distance races on the 24.4 kilometre combination of the Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit was Manthey Racing. Supported by Porsche works drivers Timo Bernhard, Emmanuel Collard and Romain Dumas, the Manthey squad secured five wins with a 911 GT3 RSR. Since 1983, Porsche has reeled off 150 wins at the long distance championship – more than all other manufacturers combined.
24 hour slot-car race Nürburgring: Porsche-Juniors pushing it hard
On 7/8 November, Porsche-Juniors Martin Ragginger and Marco Holzer took part in arguably their craziest 24 hour race to now. On a six-track model autobahn at the Nürburgring they piloted a Porsche Cayman. The two juniors’ talent impressed the slot-car professionals. However, repairs after an electrical problem took an hour and robbed the team of all hopes.
Asian Le Mans Series: Two podiums for Porsche
Strong Porsche showing at the premiere race of the Asian Le Mans Series in Japan’s Okayama (31 Oct./1 Nov.). Marc Lieb turned the quickest GT2 qualifying lap in the Felbermayr-Proton 911 GT3 RSR to yield second place from the first 500 kilometre race with Wolf Henzler – three-tenths of a second behind the winner. At the second 500 kilometre race, Christian Ried and Porsche-Junior Marco Holzer saw the flag in second at the wheel of the sister Felbermayr-Proton Porsche.
Porsche Mobil1 Supercup: Jeroen Bleekemolen defends championship
Enthralling premiere of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on the Grand Prix circuit of Abu Dhabi: At the twelfth race of the series (31 Oct.), Jeroen Bleekemolen defended his title with third place in the 911 GT3 Cup of Konrad Motorsport. His arch rival René Rast brought home his sixth win. At the final race the following day, Bleekemolen notched up win number five, with Rast running a close second. New Zealander Matt Halliday won the Rookie Classification.
Carrera Cup Deutschland: Thomas Jäger takes title at final
The fight for championship honours of the Carrera Cup Deutschland between two former DTM pilots, Thomas Jäger and Jeroen Bleekemolen, raged until the ninth and final race on the Hockenheimring (25 Oct.). Finishing fourth, Jäger (MS Racing PZ Hamburg Nord-West) pocketed the trophy after three wins and three more podium results in 2009. Bleekemolen claimed his fourth win to become runner-up.
Porsche Matmut Carrera Cup France: Renaud Derlot is the champion
Consistency and four victories gave Renaud Derlot (Graff Racing) the championship title of the Carrera Cup France. Derlot was celebrated as the new champion after the 13th of 14 races on the final weekend in Lédenon (17/18 Oct.). Triple champion Anthony Beltoise was narrowly beaten to the title by six points.
Carrera Cup Great Britain: Two come out on top
Porsche Cars Great Britain gave six young hopefuls the chance to fight for two 50,000 GBP race scholarships towards the 2010 Carrera Cup at a rigorous evaluation process in Silverstone. After two days packed with track tests, media training, interviews and physicals, 22-year-old Euan Hankey and 21-year-old Michael Meadows were confirmed as the winners of the Carrera Cup Great Britain Scholarship Programme.
Race notes:
- Notching up his fifth and sixth wins of the season, Christian Menzel defended his points’ lead in Shanghai (7/8 Nov.) against Tim Sugden. Title decision pending at the finale in Sepang (5/6 Dec.).
- Season start of the GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand in Pukekohe Park south of Auckland. Title defender Craig Baird won the 100 kilometre race on Saturday (7 Nov.) as well as Sprint 1 on Sunday. Sprint 2 went to Matt Halliday.
- Miguel Paludo is the old and new champion of the GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil. Vice-championship honours – like in 2008 – went to Constantino Junior.
Related Posts
Porsche Motorsport Newsletter 2009: Volume 9
Porsche Motorsport Newsletter 2009: Volume 8
Porsche Motorsport Newsletter 2009: Volume 7